Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences has been established under the State Legislature Act in 1983 and is named after Sanjay Gandhi. It was created by the state of Uttar Pradesh as a centre of excellence for providing medical care, education, and research of the highest order. The institute is situated in a 550 acres (2.2 square kilometers) campus at Raebareli Road, 15 km from the main city. Lucknow is located about 500 km east of New Delhi and is the capital of Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is famous for its Nawabi culture, Mughlai cuisine and intricate chikan work, a form of fine embroidery.

The Institute provides postgraduate training to medical and nonmedical professionals. The training programs lead to D.M., M.Ch., M.D., Ph.D., postdoctoral fellowships, postdoctoral certificate courses in various disciplines. In addition, it offers senior residency training programs. B.Sc. Nursing course and B.Sc. / M.Sc. paramedical technology courses in allied sciences are offered by the College of Medical Technology. The Institute is an autonomous body and awards degrees which are recognized by the Medical Council of India. The Institute functions as a State University and is member of the Association of Indian Universities and is recognized by University Grants Commission.

The guiding force behind the spirit of the Institute is the motto that Research enhances vitality of teaching, teachings lift the standards of service and service opens new avenues of investigation. One of the goals of the Institute is to evolve cost-effectiveness in tertiary medical care and therefore the emphasis on research, quality of teaching and patient care.

The project is conceived to evolve in 3 phases, consisting of 6 super specialties in each. The specialties of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Immunology, Medical Genetics, Nephrology, Urology, Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology, Medical and Surgical Endocrinology, along with Pathology, Microbiology, Transfusion Medicine, Radiodiagnosis, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, Anesthesiology and Biostatistics were chosen for development in the first phase with the Japanese collaboration under the JICA-grant in aid. All these services started functioning from 1988. As a part of consolidation of first phase Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences aimed to provide advanced specialty medical care with emphasis on Neonatal Surgery, Organ Transplantations and Comprehensive Cancer Care.

The campus is a mini township with community centre, post office, bank, schools, general hospital, playgrounds, and recreational facilities. There is planned plantation all along the campus to provide healthy environment. The total covered area of the main hospital and its ancillary services is approx. 40,000 sqm. The hospital functions strictly as a referral hospital.